By Lovetti Lafua
Nurse • Midwife • Biologist • Maternal Health Advocate • Human Optimization Researcher

Postpartum Hemorrhage: Why the Uterus Must Contract After Birth

In the Previous Post We Explore How the Body Naturally Births the Placenta. Now, we turn our attention to what happens when things don’t go as planned and why understanding the body’s mechanisms is key to ensuring safety.

The most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage is the uterus failing to contract after birth. Understanding this can prevent complications during the third stage of labour.

For the vast majority of births, the body manages the third stage of labour safely.

But when the uterus does not contract effectively, bleeding can quickly become dangerous.

This condition is called uterine atony, and it is responsible for the majority of postpartum haemorrhage cases worldwide.

The uterus must clamp down firmly after the placenta separates.

If it does not, the blood vessels that once nourished the placenta remain open.

Understanding why this happens is critical for every birth professional and every mother.